Reality TV Watchers More Pro-Choice

Reality TV may actually have a purpose in our lives.

It turns out watching shows like 16 and pregnant makes Americans more likely to support abortion, and less likely to support having children at too young an age.

A new report from the Public Religion Research Institute (PPRI) also reveals the millennium generation’s views on abortion rights aren’t parallel to their relatively progressive politics.

In the biggest study of its kind ever conducted, the PRRI surveyed more than 3,000 people about their views on religion and morality.

They found those who make judgments based on individual situations are more likely to support abortion than those who have steadfast moral principles they apply to all situations. People who knew someone who had had an abortion were also more likely to agree with, or understand, the decision.

What may come as a surprise is that Americans who regularly watched 16 and pregnant or Teen Moms were significantly more likely to accept abortion than those who didn’t.

I’m guessing the pro-choicers who argued these reality shows glamourize teen pregnancies and undermine abortion, may not be so keen on the study.

But can we really conclude, without a doubt, that such programs actually cause people to be more supportive of abortion? Couldn’t it simply be that people who were more open to abortion in the first place are more likely to be MTV viewers than those who weren’t? Cause and effect are pretty hard to prove.

We may never know, but whichever direction the relationship flows, any support of abortion rights is OK by me.

Contact the author here: brianna@morningquickie.com